After a brutal late call that cost the Dolphins a win against the New York Jets last week, the Fins on Sunday aim to leave East Rutherford (where the games are played against the Jets and Giants) with a 1-1 record.
The team should have an easy time recovering from the loss to the Jets. Eli Manning, who was benched earlier this year, will start for the Giants, and there is a possibility that guard Kevin Zeitler will be out. Janoris Jenkins was listed with an ankle injury before being released earlier this morning, while Zeitler’s ankle and wrist were noted as hurt. The Fins might be without starting receivers DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson, who are both in concussion protocol.
Offensively the team will look to get the running game going. Last week against the Jets, the running game was better, but the Fins still couldn’t get positive yardage on each play. Patrick Laird was productive and with his ability to change the passing game, the offense should have a better chance this week. The combo of Laird and Myles Gaskin was more successful than anything we’ve seen from Kalen Ballage this season. We also saw the emergence of a player Fins fans have LOVED during the preseason. With injuries to Parker and Wilson, someone had to step up, and Isaiah Ford did in a big way. If Jenkins is out, then the Giants will be relying on young corners to get the job done. Ford could flourish and should be a sleeper fantasy football pickup.
A win will cost the Fins draft positioning and cause some fans to go crazy. As I mentioned on Monday, the Fins would have fallen significantly in draft order with a win against the Jets. A Miami victory this week would push the Giants higher. However, it looks as if they are front-runners for Ohio State defensive end Chase Young. A Dolphins win won’t matter as much as it might for teams like the L.A Chargers, Detroit Lions or Jacksonville Jaguars, who could potentially be in the market for a quarterback.
Rumors swirled that Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton might be on the trade market once the offseason starts, and teams like the Chargers could be interested. He’s not the best option on the market right now and would be a patch for the position.
The Chargers might swoop in and take injured Bama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa if the Fins don’t snatch him up in the draft. But the injury he suffered will play a part in his stock. Tua would be stupid not to get out now. To rehab his injury, get paid and potentially end up with a great organization could be crucial for his development.
The other options for the Fins in this draft are Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Utah State’s Jordan Love. Oh, you haven’t heard? Apparently, Tomas Edward Brady may join the Fins during the offseason. This would shock the NFL world and seems unlikely. But if the Fins sign an aging Brady over the offseason, any quarterback with the tools would benefit from learning behind him — Tua, Herbert or Love.
